Why yes, we are late to the party. But now that we’re a few months removed from Spirit Airlines shutting down, we’ve had some time to reflect on just how much the airline influenced the way we travel.
When Brian and I first started traveling together, Spirit Airlines made more affordable getaways possible. Back then, we were working with limited time off and an even tighter budget. It’s funny that with so little time off, we still chose to fly Spirit despite its reputation for delays. Amazingly, in all the years we flew with Spirit, we never once faced a lengthy delay or even a cancellation.
Over time, we learned when flying an ultra-low-cost airline made sense and when it was worth spending a little more. Looking back, Spirit changed the way we think about value, specifically in travel. It might seem laughable that an airline known for budget travel had such an impact on us, but those experiences still contribute to how we plan trips today.
The “Greyhound of the Skies” Was Our Kind of Airline
Of course, we knew their reputation! We’ve heard the jokes and been teased about it plenty of times. In fact, here’s an old favorite a friend shared with us:
Spirit was commonly referred to as the “Greyhound of the skies,” and no, in case you were wondering, it was not a term of endearment. There was some truth to that comparison; we never took it as an insult. Greyhound gets you where you’re going, and so did Spirit. That is, if you were lucky enough to avoid the flights where those knock-down, drag-out fights broke out. Fortunately, we never encountered one in nearly 20 years of flying the airline.
The Greyhound of the Skies was perfect for us. We weren’t looking for luxury, just an affordable way to reach where we wanted to explore.
Practical by Nature
I tend to be a pretty practical traveler. If two airlines are getting me to the same place in one piece, I’m going to have a tough time paying two to three times as much just because someone hands me a tiny bag of pretzels. I’ll pack my own snacks, thanks.
Brian and I used to fly round-trip to Las Vegas on Spirit for $60 total! That kind of pricing was definitely not going to get us luxury, but that was okay with us. Why spend more getting there when we could put those savings toward the fun once we arrived?
Spirit taught us to look at the value of the whole trip, not just what we were getting for our money.
“Comfortable Enough” Can Be Enough
Were the seats the most comfortable seats ever? No. They were a minimalist’s dream, featuring ultra-lightweight padding on a slim, hard frame. Honestly, I never found them particularly uncomfortable, even on flights longer than five hours or from the middle seat, where I spent 99% of my time.
We didn’t need the extras that came standard on larger airlines. We’d download our own movies and shows, bring our own snacks and drinks, and settle in. Sometimes Brian and I would even watch the same thing together, turning our flight into a little quality time with each other.
And, in full disclosure, we’ve also realized that staying active and taking care of ourselves makes a big difference when we’re spending hours in a basic airplane seat. Spirit was not the airline to fly when you were feeling overly bloated.
If It Didn’t Fit, Did We Really Need It?
The personal-item-only rule turned us into packing minimalists, and I absolutely love it. Those $60 round-trip flights we scored? Those rock-bottom prices were only possible when we bought our tickets at the counter, opted out of seat selection, and only brought a backpack.
We realized how little we actually needed. We’ve one-bagged it across the country, internationally, and even in winter. It’s completely and totally freeing. From simplifying toiletries to handwashing clothing, Spirit encouraged us to really think about what deserved space in our bags.
And when we needed just a little more room, we figured it out. That occasionally meant a “food bag,” like a Starbucks paper bag, filled with toiletries, snacks, books, or other little extras.
Of course, we ponied up for a carry-on when it made sense. Sometimes the extra space was worth it, especially if we were hiking or needed to bring extra gear for whatever reason. Other times, another airline was the better choice.
Sometimes the Cheapest Option Wasn’t the Smartest
As much as I love a cheap flight (and man, oh man, I really do…), Spirit also reinforced that cheap doesn’t automatically mean valuable.
For many trips, especially when we were traveling light, Spirit was the obvious choice. The savings were hard to beat. But when we needed hiking gear or better flight times, the extra cost of another airline was sometimes worth it.
Frugality isn’t about spending as little as possible. It’s about spending intentionally on what actually matters to you. For us, that meant paying more when the flexibility or extra space made the overall trip better.
Spending less is only a win when those lower prices still support the adventure.
Spirit Prepared Us for Other Low-Cost Airlines Around the World
A lot of other low-cost airlines seemed pretty approachable after our experiences with Spirit. We already understood that a lower fare usually meant making a few compromises. We haven’t yet ventured into Ryanair territory, although the story of the passenger who was partially sucked out of a plane window certainly caught our attention. We have, however, flown with WestJet and Jetstar.
Brian and I knew to read the baggage rules, understand what was included, and prepare for a very basic experience. Much to our surprise, flying with these airlines was just as pleasant as what we were used to on Spirit, if not better.
Our 10-hour Jetstar flight was especially funny because we had heard so many horror stories beforehand. We prepared ourselves for the worst and ended up having a completely normal flight. We’ve learned to do our research and decide ahead of time which compromises we’re willing to make.
Knowing Where to Draw The Line
Of course, we eventually knew when to walk away.
Our last Spirit flight was in 2024, more than a year before the airline officially shut down. By then, we were already noticing the value changing. Fares were trending upward, cancellations were becoming more frequent, and their bankruptcy filing made purchases harder to justify.
In the end, bad business is bad business. As consumers, we weren’t willing to risk our money with a company whose financial stability we could no longer trust. We stopped flying Spirit before its troubles became our troubles.
We were willing to sacrifice legroom, snacks, entertainment, and extra bags. No big deal, as long as we could affordably get where we were going. However, we weren’t willing to sacrifice reliability.
We weren’t loyal to Spirit simply because it was cheap. We were loyal to what it allowed us to do. When that stopped being worth it, we moved on.
Losing Spirit Left a Hole
I appreciated Spirit for what it was. For all of its quirks and limitations, it actually gave us plenty of freedom to travel on our own terms. We could decide what mattered to us and skip the things that didn’t.
I miss those $30 fares.
I miss knowing that a spontaneous weekend trip could be affordable enough to actually consider. I miss having the choice to say, “We don’t need all the extras. Just get us there!”
Major airlines have added their own stripped-down fares, but the prices don’t always offer the same kind of affordability. Without that competition, our quick little getaways have become less frequent.
And that’s what I really miss: the freedom to choose how much of the travel experience we actually wanted to pay for.
The Flight Was Never the Point
When I think about all of those Spirit flights now, none of them really stick out in my mind. I remember some of them, sure, but they’re not what you’d call core memories. And that’s exactly why I’m okay with how we choose to fly, even today.
The flight was never the whole experience. As long as we’re safe and reasonably comfortable, it’s just one small part of a much larger adventure. Where we stay, the food, the hikes, the wandering, and the time Brian and I spend together are what we remember most. Those are moments that stick with us years later.
Spirit taught us to look at the entire trip rather than obsess over one small piece of it. We may not always choose the cheapest flight, but we’re much more intentional about spending where it actually adds value to the experience.
The flight was never the point. It was simply how we got there.
